Systems and Methods to Rank and Select Triggers for Real-Time Offers

• US 20120059702A1
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Published: 03/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Visa International Service Association (Visa, Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoder, Jeanette, Amaro, Leigh, Hagey, Ryan, Bankston, Michael Steven, Gebbie, Michael James
• Granted Patent: US 9,972,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.17
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0215 Including financial accounts
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements

Abstract

In one aspect, a computing apparatus is configured to receive an input specifying a set of users, identify a set of triggers, each of which corresponds to a set of one or more conditions which when satisfied cause transmission of a message to the set of users, rank the triggers based at least in part on transaction data of the users that was recorded by a transaction handler, and generate a ranked list of the triggers based on the ranking.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, in a portal of a transaction handler, an input specifying a set of users;

identifying, by a computing apparatus, a set of triggers, each of the triggers identifying a set of one or more conditions which, when satisfied by a transaction processed by the transaction handler for a user in the set, cause transmission of a message to the user; and

ranking, by the computing apparatus, the triggers based at least in part on transaction data of the users recorded by the transaction handler to generate a ranked list of the triggers.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting, by the computing apparatus, one or more selected triggers from the ranked list of triggers according to the ranking;

providing a plurality of trigger records to the transaction handler according to the one or more selected triggers;

monitoring, by the transaction handler, transactions according to the trigger records; and

in response to a transaction of the user processed by the transaction handler matching one of the trigger records, transmitting the message to the user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving, in the portal of the transaction handler, an input specifying an offer;

wherein the message relates to the offer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more selected triggers are selected by the computing apparatus in an automated way based on the ranking

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the set of triggers is identified by the computing apparatus in an automated way.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the set of triggers is identified via receiving an input using the portal of the transaction handler.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the message includes the offer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ranking of the triggers comprises determining a likelihood of transactions of the users in the set satisfying conditions specified in respective triggers.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ranking of the triggers is further based on estimating spending amounts for transactions satisfying conditions specified in respective triggers.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the ranking of the triggers is further based on a likelihood of the users responding to the message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the message relates to an offer of a benefit;

and the transaction handler is configured to provide the benefit via statement credit after a fulfillment requirement of the offer is satisfied based on transaction data from the transaction handler.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, by the portal, the ranked list for presentation to a marketer that specifies the input;

receiving, in the portal from the marketer, an input selecting one or more selected triggers from the ranked list of triggers;

providing a plurality of trigger records to the transaction handler according to the one or more selected triggers;

monitoring, by the transaction handler, transactions according to the trigger records; and

in response to a transaction of the user processed by the transaction handler matching one of the trigger records, transmitting the message to the user.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the message includes an advertisement specified by the marketer using the portal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the advertisement is transmitted to a mobile phone of a corresponding user who made a transaction that matches a respective trigger.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the ranking is based on at least one of:

probability of transactions satisfying a corresponding trigger, anticipated number of trigger events, and anticipated spending amount caused by the advertisement.

16. A computer-storage medium storing instructions configured to instruct a computing apparatus to:

receive, in a portal of the computing apparatus, a message and an input specifying a set of requirements;

identify, by the computing apparatus, a user set according to the set of requirements;

identify, by the computing apparatus, a set of triggers, each of the triggers identifying a set of one or more conditions which, when satisfied by a transaction processed by a transaction handler for a user in the user set, cause transmission of the message to the user;

rank, by the computing apparatus, the triggers based at least in part on transaction data of the users recorded by the transaction handler to generate a ranked list of the triggers;

identify, by the computing apparatus, one or more triggers based on the ranked list; and

generate trigger records for the message based on the one or more triggers, wherein the transaction handler is configured to cause transmission of the message if a transaction satisfies one of the trigger records.

17. The computer-storage medium of claim 16, wherein the message relates to an offer of a benefit, which is provided by the transaction handler via statement credit after a fulfillment requirement of the offer is satisfied based on transaction data from the transaction handler.

18. The computer-storage medium of claim 16, wherein the message reminds a recipient of the message to take advantage of the offer.

19. A computing apparatus, comprising:

a data warehouse configured to store transaction data recording transactions processed by a transaction handler;

a portal configured to provide a user interface through which inputs are received to identify an offer and a user set, the portal further configured to rank a set of predetermined triggers using transaction data of the user set, select first triggers based on ranking the set of predetermined triggers, generate a set of trigger records corresponding to the first triggers, and store the set trigger of trigger records in the data warehouse, wherein the traction handler is configured to use the triggers records stored in the data warehouse to identify a transaction that satisfies conditions specified in a transaction record and cause an action specified in the transaction record; and

a message broker configured to generate a message associated with the offer in accordance with the action specified in the transaction record and provide the message to a user associated with an account in which the transaction is made, wherein the message is provided to the user in real time with processing of the transaction by the transaction handler and the message is provided using a communication channel different from a communication channel used by the transaction handler to communicate an authorization response for the transaction.

20. The computing apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

the transaction handler coupled with the data warehouse.